Colorado Ballet -- Sleeping Beauty, October 4-13, 2024
FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
As we embark on Colorado Ballet’s 2024/2025 Season together, I am filled with excitement for the extraordinary year that lies ahead. From beloved classics to thrilling regional premieres, this season promises to be a true celebration of the art form we all cherish. Whether you’re returning to familiar favorites or experiencing something entirely new, I hope each performance this season offers you a moment of wonder, a touch of inspiration, and a deeper appreciation for the magic of ballet.
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to our season opener, Sleeping Beauty. A cornerstone of the classical repertoire, Sleeping Beauty embodies the elegance, artistry, grace, and technical precision that have become synonymous with the highest standards of our beloved art form. As we bring this timeless masterpiece to life on stage, I invite you to enjoy the beauty of its rich choreography, the emotional depth of its storytelling, and the magnificent music that has captivated audiences for generations.
We wouldn’t be here without you—our community, our supporters, our friends. Your unwavering support allows us to bring cherished stories like Sleeping Beauty to the stage, to continue creating, and to share the joy of dance with all who walk through our theater’s doors. Thank you for being a part of this journey.
Please enjoy the performance.
Gil Boggs Artistic Director
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
It is with gratitude that I welcome our community back to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House for another unforgettable season. Colorado Ballet is honored to continue our tradition of bringing world-class ballet to our community, and this year, we are more excited than ever to share our passion for this beautiful art form with you.
This season features a diverse repertoire that has been carefully curated to captivate, connect, inspire, and uplift—from beloved classics like Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker to bold, new ballets including the Rocky Mountain regional premiere of Casanova. With our expanded Company roster of 40 professional dancers—the largest in our history—we’re set to continue presenting exceptional productions to our audiences while exploring new creative possibilities that broaden the boundaries of ballet, bring fresh perspectives to the stage, and deepen the emotional impact of every performance.
Our mission at Colorado Ballet remains clear: to make ballet accessible to everyone in our community. Through affordable ticketing initiatives, performances with sensory-friendly adaptations, and community partnerships, we’re committed to continuing to share the beauty of ballet across Colorado and beyond.
Thank you for your unwavering support, which fuels our growth and creativity. Together, we’ll continue to elevate ballet to new heights this season.
With gratitude,
Sameed Afghani Executive Director
Front cover features
Jennifer Grace by Rachel Neville. Program design by Christopher Hernandez.
INSTITUTIONAL GIVING
AVENIR
ENDOWMENT FUND
VIRTUOSO ENCORE
BRAVO
AMBASSADOR
Virginia Hill Foundation I Mabel Y. Hughes Charitable Trust I Chambers Initiative
NOV. 30 – DEC. 29, 2024
CHRISTOPHER MITCHELL BY RACHEL NEVILLE
Ellie Caulkins Opera House with live music performed by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra
THANK YOU MAJOR DONORS
Colorado Ballet is incredibly grateful to the following donors whose annual support is vital to our mission of artistic excellence and community engagement.
List reflects total giving between August 1, 2023 and July 31, 2024
PRIMA CIRCLE
($100,000+)
Lynnette Morrison
Mary Ellen and David Wright
BRAVURA CIRCLE
($50,000+)
Raydean Acevedo
Sally Murray
Victoria and Sam Phares
ETOILE CIRCLE
($25,000+)
Holly Baroway and Erik Cederlund
Pam and Duke Hartman
Anne and James Hillary
Jane and Gordon Netzorg
Cheri and Alan Rubin
Suzan and Gary Schlatter
Nancy and Thomas Stevens
Bernee and Mark Strom
ENCORE CIRCLE ($15,000+)
Bernd and Ursel Albers (in memoriam)
David Andrews
Lisa Levin Appel
Liz and Bill Armstrong
Michelle Bouchagoura
Ann and Ford Frick
Paul Goodspeed
Anonymous
Alyson and Chris Graves
Susan Hymers
Melanie Kopperud and Brent Backes
Merry and Steve Logan
Douglas Richards
Jo and Richard Sanders
Marie and Daniel Welch
PRINCIPAL CIRCLE ($10,000+)
Susan and Steve Bailey
Natalia Ballinger and Michael Korenblat
Susan and Jeff Campbell
Pam and Mike Copp
Kaye Ferry
Susan Frawley
Emily and Alec Garnett
Marla and Richard Gentry
Denise and Scott Hasday
Nancy and Curt Hockemeier
Elizabeth Katkin-Waryn and Rich Waryn
Ravelle and Thomas Kundinger
Carolyn Laband
Pam and Greg Laugero
Arika and Geoff Long
Patty and Jim Long
Michelle Moorman-Applegate and Rob Applegate
Jillian Parker and Rich Kylberg
Stephen Riedlinger
Louise and Flip Rouse
Denise and James Sanderson
Jeanne and Dick Saunders
David Scanavino
Lisa and Bill Snider
Rita and Brad Sonnenberg
Susan and Stephen Struna
8-10
22-24
Concerto No. 2 with Simon Trpčeski
Symphony with Christopher Dragon
Stole Christmas in Concert
White Christmas Symphony Tour
5
JAN. 31 – FEB. 9, 2025
ARIEL MCCARTY & CHRISTOPHOR MOULTON BY RACHEL NEVILLE
Ellie Caulkins Opera House with live music performed by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra
A Ballet by Kenneth Tindall Music by Kerry Muzzey
COLORADO BALLET BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Board Co-Chairs
Michelle MoormanApplegate
Geoff Long
Executive Committee
Raydean Acevedo
Brent L. Backes
Holly Baroway, CFP
Alyson Graves
Duke Hartman
Curt Hockemeier
Elizabeth Katkin
Michael E. Korenblat, Esq.
Rich Kylberg
Merry Logan
Christina Raya
Douglas Richards
Denise Sanderson
Bernee Strom
JoAnne Zboyan
Trustees
Susan W. Bailey
Heather Beiser
Kaye Ferry
Ann Frick
Emily Garnett
Anne Hillary
Jane Netzorg
Victoria D. Phares
Cheri Rubin
Dick Saunders
Suzan Schlatter
Brad Sonnenberg
Nancy Stevens
Emeritus Board
Lisa Levin Appel
Bill Armstrong
Liz Armstrong
Anna Bates*
Mary Lou Blackledge-Kortz
Christin Crampton Day
Sandy Elliott*
Don Kortz*
Henny Lasley
Joanne Posner-Mayer
David Ramsay
Jim Ruh
Lisa Snider
Harry M. Sterling*
Lifetime Trustees
Raydean Acevedo
Duke Hartman
Dick Saunders
Arts & Venues
Representative
Mark Heiser
Auxiliary Co-Presidents
Kathleen Hartmann
Hayley Servatius
Artistic Director
Gil Boggs
Executive Director
Sameed Afghani
* Deceased
Catherine McGregor & Cruz Vining by Andrew Fassbender
MARCH 7 – 16, 2025
ALEXANDRA WILSON BY RACHEL NEVILLE
Ellie Caulkins Opera House with live music performed by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra
Founders
Lillian Covillo and Freidann Parker
Artistic Director
Gil Boggs
Executive Director
Sameed Afghani
Ballet Masters
Sandra Brown, Lorita Travaglia, Maria Mosina
Music Director and Principal Conductor
Adam Flatt
Associate Conductor
Catherine Sailer
THE COMPANY
Principals
Jennifer Grace, Mario Labrador, Leah McFadden, Christophor Moulton, Jessica Payne, Jonnathan Ramirez, Asuka Sasaki
Soloists
Patrick Mihm, Kevin Gaël Thomas, Sarah Tryon, Alexandra Wilson
Demi-Soloists
Liam Hogan, Ever Larson, Bryce Lee, Ariel McCarty, Sean Omandam, Jeremy Studinski, Mackenzie Dessens Studinski, Sara Thomas
Corps de Ballet
Kenny Allen, Joshua Allenback, Catherine Aoki, Cato Berry, Lily Bines, Alexandra Gilliom, Sheridan Guerin, Catherine McGregor, Christopher Mitchell, Stefanee Montesantos, Santiago Paniagua, Sonata Ross, Tate Ryner, Cruz Vining
Ryan Andrews, Camille Boggs, Noelle Burtschi, Emma Chen, Ella Gozdieski, Emmanuelle Hendrickson, Jordan Henry, Alexander Holms, Tiffany Hopkins, Lydia Jones, Lilly Lieber, Bailey Marie, Sarah Claire Martin, Poppy Martinez-Cox, Rheana Montesantos, Nura Parikh, Delaney Rea, Axel Rickard, Ryder Rickard, Ryan Smallwood, Natalie Taylor, Cobin Tonsmeire
Colorado Ballet I 1075 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204 I 303-837-8888 I COLORADOBALLET.ORG
Out of courtesy to the dancers, the taking of photographs of any nature is strictly prohibited during performances. Please silence all cellular telephones and audible devices.
Colorado Ballet productions are made possible in part by funding from the citizens of the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District. The Dancers of Colorado Ballet are represented by The American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO; the union that represents Artists in the fields of opera, ballet, modern dance, and choral presentations.
SLEEPING BEAUTY
ELLIE CAULKINS OPERA HOUSE
OCTOBER 4-13, 2024
Choreography by Marius Petipa
Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Staged by Sandra Brown, Lorita Travaglia, and Maria Mosina
World premiere January 16, 1890, Marinski Theatre, St. Petersberg
Scenery and costume design by David Walker
Lighting Design by Todd Elmer
Scenery and costumes courtesy of Boston Ballet
PROLOGUE
ACT I: The Spell
20 minute intermission
ACT II, SCENE ONE: The Vision
ACT II, SCENE TWO: The Awakening
15 minute intermission
ACT III: The Wedding
SYNOPSIS
PROLOGUE
The guests of King Florestan XIV arrive to celebrate the christening of the infant Princess Aurora. Catalabutte, the Master of Ceremonies presides as the Good Fairies, led by the powerful and kind Lilac Fairy, appear to dance for the young Princess. The fairies shower Aurora with character traits of Serenity, Vitality, Generosity, Happiness, and Temperament. The celebration is disrupted by the arrival of the malevolent fairy, Carabosse. She is furious about the negligence of the King and Queen in not inviting her to the christening. She pronounces that her gift to the child would be the curse of death. She predicts that when Aurora turns 16, she will prick her finger on a spindle and die. The King and Queen, along with the Courters are horrified, but the Lilac Fairy emerges to reassure them. Although she cannot reverse the curse of the powerful Carabosse, she promises to modify it. The Princess will not die but will fall asleep for 100 years and will be awakened from her slumber by the kiss of a handsome Prince. Carabosse is furious at the interference of the Lilac Fairy and exits in rage.
ACT I
It is Aurora's 16th birthday and the celebration has begun. Princess Aurora enters to greet her parents. She is introduced to her four suitors who each present her with a single rose. At the height of the celebration, the mood darkens as the strange figure of an old woman appears and offers Aurora a bouquet of flowers, in which a spindle is hidden. As she dances with the bouquet, Aurora pricks her finger and just as the curse predicted, it appears she is going to die. The horrified King and Queen rush to her as she begins a frantic dance, finally falling to the ground. The old woman reveals herself as the evil Carabosse. Aurora's suitors try to seize her but she escapes. The Lilac Fairy reassures everyone that the Princess is only asleep and then casts her spell on everyone present at the celebration.
ACT II
One hundred years have passed. The scene opens on a young Prince Desiree and his hunting party who are on a hunt in the woods. As the party spots their pray they are eager to begin the hunt, the Prince urges them to go on without him. He finds himself in an enchanted forest, surrounded by the nymphs of the river forest. The Lilac Fairy meets him and tells him about the beautiful sleeping Princess. She conjures up a vision of Aurora. The Prince is so enraptured with the vision that he begs the Lilac Fairy to help him find her. On the way through the forest, the Prince and the Lilac Fairy encounter Carabosse who does everything in her power to stop them. But the goodness of the Lilac Fairy is stronger. She leads the Prince through the brambles and cobwebs to the Sleeping Princess. The Prince awakens her with a kiss and the curse is lifted. The Prince kneels in front of Aurora and asks her hand in marriage.
ACT III
It is the wedding of Aurora and Desiree. The joyous celebration is attended by numerous guests including various fairytale characters and the five jewel fairies who dance in honor of the bride and groom. Aurora and Desiree then dance together. The ballet ends with all joining in a rousing Mazurka after which the Lilac Fairy returns to give her blessing as "they all live happily ever after."
ARTISTIC STAFF
Gil Boggs, Artistic Director
Gil Boggs began his dance career with the Atlanta Ballet. He joined American Ballet Theatre in New York in 1982 and was promoted to soloist dancer in 1984 and principal dancer in 1991. Boggs was a member of the company for 17 years. Boggs also performed with the Twyla Tharp Dance Company, Baryshnikov and Company, Nureyev and Friends, and made several guest appearances around the world. During his career with ABT, he was recognized as both an accomplished virtuoso and one of the company’s most popular performers. Boggs has worked with numerous noted choreographers, including Agnes de Mille, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Paul Taylor, Mark Morris, Jerome Robbins and Merce Cunningham and has an extensive performance repertoire of both classical and contemporary works. Boggs accepted the position of Artistic Director with Colorado Ballet in the Spring of 2006. In Boggs’ tenure with Colorado Ballet he has restaged full-length productions of Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Don Quixote and Coppélia along with adding new full-length productions of Romeo & Juliet, Cinderella, Le Corsaire, Beauty and the Beast and Peter Pan. Boggs has also presented 17 world premieres and 18 Colorado Ballet premieres by such renowned choreographers as Twyla Tharp, Lar Lubovitch, Anthony Tudor, Val Caniparoli, Dwight Rhoden and Lynne Taylor-Corbett.
Sandra Brown, Assistant to the Artistic Director/Ballet Master
Sandra Brown joined American Ballet Theatre in 1987 under the directorship of Mikhail Baryshnikov, where she remained until 2003. During that time, she danced numerous classical, full-length principal roles and gained recognition for her leading contemporary roles. Brown appears in ABT’s film productions of Romeo and Juliet, Le Corsaire, and the documentary Ballet. She was featured in the movie Center Stage and appears in the film The Company. She also achieved recognition by appearing on Broadway as Louise Bigelow in the Tony Award-winning 1994 revival of Carousel, directed by Nicholas Hytner and choreographed by Sir Kenneth MacMillan at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. In 2003, Brown left ABT to pursue work as a freelance artist. During this time, she performed as a guest artist at the Vail International Festival and taught and choreographed for the ABT Summer Intensive. In 2006, she joined her husband, Gil Boggs, to work with Colorado Ballet. As a Ballet Master, she has staged full-length productions, staged a multitude of other ballets, and choreographed many scenes in Colorado Ballet's productions. She has also choreographed a multitude of ballets for the Bal de Ballet, an event hosted by the Denver Ballet Guild. In 2014, she gained critical acclaim for the ballet The Last Beat, which she created on the dancers of Colorado Ballet to the music of DeVotchKa.
Lorita Travaglia, Ballet Master
Lorita Travaglia is originally from New Zealand. She received her ballet training at the National School of Ballet and the Royal Ballet School in London. Lorita made her debut as a professional dancer with the Berlin Ballet. After six years with the Company, she moved to the United States where she worked with Princeton Ballet, Boston Ballet, Atlanta Ballet and International Ballet Rotaru, dancing solo and principal roles in a wide range of repertoire. Her favorite roles include Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Swanhilda in Coppelia, Cinderella, Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker and Paquita. Lorita began teaching in 1988 while still performing and studied the Vaganova methodology. In 1999, Lorita joined Colorado Ballet as director of the Apprentice Program and company repetiteur, and has been ballet master since 2006. Her choreography includes Equanimity, Aspects, Pictures at an Exhibition, Piazzolla and, most recently, The Angel of Buenos Aires for Colorado Ballet and a full-length The Nutcracker for Canyon Concert Ballet. Lorita graduated from the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2000 and has a private practice in Denver. She is an avid tango dancer and is the Creative Director of Parasol Arts.
Maria Mosina, Ballet Master
Maria Mosina was born in Moscow and graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Russia. Upon graduation, Maria joined the Bolshoi Ballet Grigorovich Company and immediately was chosen for principal roles. She toured the world appearing on all major European, American, African and Asian stages. In 1995, Maria was invited by Colorado Ballet to join as a leading principal dancer. She performed all major parts in classical productions and also had the chance to show her talent in neoclassical, modern and contemporary choreographed master pieces. Maria was a featured dancer on the cover of Dance Magazine and has been featured in other magazine articles. She holds a bachelor's degree in methodology and pedagogy from the Moscow State Academy of Choreography. She is also an active ballet instructor throughout the United States. She participated as a master teacher and judge for the Youth American Grand Prix. Maria performed leading roles in all major productions as a member of the Company, as well as a guest artist with many other festivals, galas, and companies. After 21 seasons as a principal dancer with Colorado Ballet, she retired at the end of the 2016/2017 season. She has now joined the artistic staff of the company.
Suellen de Villiers, Lower School Principal
Suellen's career is a dynamic blend of dance and medicine, driven by her unwavering passion for both. Born in South Africa, she began dancing at three and later graduated as a Dance Major from the National School of the Arts, where she completed her RAD exams under esteemed instructors. Earning her RAD Teaching Certification with distinction in 1995 sparked her love for teaching. With three decades of teaching experience in ballet, contemporary, and Spanish dance, Suellen has made substantial contributions to dance communities in South Africa and the Asia Pacific region. Her students have gone on to excel at prestigious international ballet schools and companies. In 2020, Suellen joined Colorado Ballet Academy, where she was promoted to Lower School Principal and serves as the Children's Rehearsal Director for Colorado Ballet. She plays a pivotal role in staging Academy students in major company productions and finds her greatest joy in watching her students captivate audiences and shine on stage.
ARTISTIC STAFF
Adam Flatt, Music Director & Principal Conductor
Adam Flatt has served as Music Director and Principal Conductor of Colorado Ballet since 2007, conducting hundreds of performances in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House leading the acclaimed Colorado Ballet Orchestra. Well known to Colorado audiences, Adam also served as Associate Conductor of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra where he led over 250 concerts in a five-year tenure, as Music Director of the Denver Philharmonic, and as Music Director of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra for seven years, leading that orchestra at home in Denver and on international tours. In addition to his work at Colorado Ballet, Adam is Music Director of the Newport Symphony Orchestra on the Oregon coast, and the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra. As a guest conductor he leads performances with symphony orchestras, ballet companies and opera companies all over the United States. He has served on the musical faculties of both the Rocky Ridge Music Center and Summerfest at the Curtis Institute of Music. Adam Flatt has his bachelor’s degree in music with honors from the University of California at Berkeley, and his master’s degree in conducting from the Indiana University School of Music. Adam Flatt and his family make their home in Denver.
Catherine Sailer, Associate Conductor
Catherine Sailer, Director of Choral Studies at the University of Denver, conducts the Lamont Chorale, Lamont Women’s Chorus and the Evans Choir. She is also the Associate Conductor of the Colorado Ballet Orchestra. She was named the winner of the Robert Shaw Fellowship in 2005, chosen by Chorus America and supported by Warner Brothers and the National Endowment for the Arts. Her other awards include first place at the American Choral Director’s Association Conducting Competition. Conducting Credits include the Atlanta Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, the National Opera of China, the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music Orchestra and the Central City Opera. Sailer has been a conducting fellow with the Dale Warland Singers, the Kansas City Chorale, the Chicago Symphony Chorus, the Carnegie Hall Workshop Chorus, and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. She has collaborated as conductor or chorus master with singers William Warfield and Marilyn Horne and conductors Victor Yampolsky, Marius Szmolij, Stephen Alltop, David Amram, Tan Dun, David Fanshawe, and Marin Alsop. Sailer was invited to conduct in the National Conducting Institute with the National Symphony Orchestra as a student of Leonard Slatkin. She also conducted performances of the festival chorus and orchestra at the Oregon Bach Festival under the tutelage of Helmuth Rilling. Catherine Sailer received the Doctor of Music with honors in conducting from Northwestern University and the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance and Conducting from the University of Denver.
COLORADO BALLET ORCHESTRA
Adam Flatt, Music Director & Principal Conductor I Catherine Sailer, Associate Conductor
1st Violin
Takanori Sugishita, Concertmaster
Ryan Jacobsen
Mary Evans
Robyn Julyan
Angela Dombrowski
Robyn Sosa
Adrienne Short
Tori Woodrow
2nd Violin
Margaret Soper-Gutierrez, Principal
Gyongyver Petheo
Stephanie Bork
Veronica Pigeon
Chris Menter
Leena Waite
Viola
Stephanie Mientka, Principal
Lora Stevens
Aniel Caban
Ezgi Pikayzen
Cello
Jeff Watson, Principal
Elle Wells
Sara Fierer
Andy Kolb
Bass
David Crowe, Principal
Jason Thompson
Brian Knott
Flute
Paul Nagem, Principal
Elizabeth Sadilek-Labenski, 2nd
Piccolo
Olga Shilaeva
Oboe
Lauren Blackerby, Principal
Kathryn Dupuy Simpson, 2nd
English Horn
Kathryn Dupuy Simpson
Clarinet
Kellan Toohey, Principal April Johannesen, 2nd
Bassoon
Kaori Uno-Jack, Principal Brian Jack, 2nd
Horn
Lauren Robinson, Principal Sarah Ford, 2nd
Matthew Scheffelman, 3rd
Stuart Mock, 4th
Trumpet
John King, Principal Colin Oldberg, 2nd
Cornet
Derek McDonald, Principal Michael Bucalo, 2nd
Trombone
Bron Wright, Principal Robert Olds, 2nd
Bass Trombone
Andy Wolfe
Tuba
Adam Snider, Principal Percussion
Peter Cooper, Principal
Carl Dixon
Timpani
Mark Foster, Principal
Harp
Pamela Eldridge, Principal
Piano
Catherine Sailer, Principal
Orchestra Personnel
Manager & Librarian
April Johannesen
COLORADO BALLET DANCERS
Jennifer Grace
Principal Bozeman, Montana
Principal Colorado Springs, Colorado
Labrador
Principal Antioch, California
Leah
Principal Dowagiac, Michigan
The dancers and artistic staff of Colorado Ballet celebrate and gratefully acknowledge the generosity of Lynnette Morrison, Founding Sponsor of the company's Dancer Wellness Program.
(she/her)
Jonnathan Ramirez (he/him) Principal Cali, Columbia
Jessica Payne (she/her) Principal San Clemente, California
Mario
(he/him)
Asuka Sasaki (she/her) Principal Nagano, Japan
Kevin Gaël Thomas (he/him) Soloist Cannes, France
Christophor Moulton (he/him)
McFadden
Patrick Mihm (he/him) Soloist Dubuque, Iowa
Alexandra Wilson* (she/her) Soloist Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Sarah Tryon (she/her) Soloist Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Learn more about the talented Artists of Colorado Ballet
STUDIO COMPANY DANCERS
In alphabetical order: Ryan Andrews, Camille Boggs, Noelle Burtschi, Emma Chen, Ella Gozdieski, Emmanuelle Hendrickson, Jordan Henry, Alexander Holms, Tiffany Hopkins, Lydia Jones, Lilly Lieber, Bailey Marie, Sarah Claire Martin, Poppy Martinez-Cox, Rheana Montesantos, Nura Parikh, Delaney Rea, Axel Rickard, Ryder Rickard, Ryan Smallwood, Natalie Taylor, Cobin Tonsmeire
Photo by Andrea Flanagan
GUEST ARTISTS & DESIGNERS
Gregory K. Gonzales, Guest Artist
Gregory Gonzales graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in Sports Fitness/Kinesiology and Dance. He was a scholarship recipient and won the Best Dancer Award while there. Gregory was a Principal Dancer with the Colorado Ballet and Resident Choreographer and now works with the company as a Resident Guest Artist. He was adjudicated by the Society of American Fight Directors for stage combat and has choreographed fight scenes for ballet, theater, opera and film. Gregory is also a musician and has played guitar and bandoneon for the Natural Tango Orquesta Tipica. He is also a recipient of The Legends of Dance Award for 2019 from the Dance Archive University of Denver. Most of all, Gregory loves to perform and dance!
Todd Elmer, Lighting Design
Mr. Elmer came to Colorado Ballet in 2008 from an extensive background designing lighting for live performance: theatre, opera, dance, and ballet, which included ten consecutive years touring domestically and internationally from 1984-94 while based in New York. He was the Lighting Director for American Ballet Theatre, Baryshnikov’s White Oak Dance Project, Wes Chapman’s American Ballet, Production Stage Manager for three Festival on Ice U.S. National Tours, and Lighting Supervisor for ABT’s junior company, ABT II. He has traveled in all but 6 U.S. states and worked in 12 foreign countries. This new Nutcracker is his 19th production with Colorado Ballet. Since relocating to New Mexico in 1994, other long-term clients include Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, the Wheelwright Museum of The American Indian, and the New Mexico School for the Arts dance department. His beginning in ballet came in 1982 lighting NYCB’s School of American Ballet annual performances in Lincoln Center, a relationship that lasted 37 years. In New York he also designed lighting for numerous Off-Broadway shows, theatre and opera productions for the Juilliard School, and has served in either design, managerial, or technical capacities at Louisville Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Maria Benitez Teatro Flamenco, Telluride/ Alpine Dance, Richmond Ballet, Bermuda and Spoleto Festivals, Santa Fe Opera, and the Yale Repertory Theatre.
David Walker, Set and Costume Designer (1934 – 2008)
Awards: Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for Hamlet (1971 - Hallmark Hall of Fame) Dance designs include the ballets of Cinderella (Covent Garden, English National Ballet, Amsterdam), Aston’s The Dream (Covent Garden, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Canada, Salt Lake City), Swan Lake (Stockholm, Houston Ballet, Gotenborg, Monte-Carlo), Sleeping Beauty (Covent Garden, Boston Ballet, Stockholm), La Sylphide (Houston Ballet, Deutsche Oper, Vienna, Zürich), Nutcracker (English National Ballet, Louisville Ballet), Giselle (Norwegian Ballet) and Romeo and Juliet (Houston Ballet). Opera designs include productions for Covent Garden (Suor Angelica, Don Giovanni), English National Opera (La traviata, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg), The Met Opera (Carmen), Glyndebourne (Werther, La bohème), Welsh National Opera (Don Giovanni, La traviata), Stockholm Opera House (Il Seraglio, Rozenkavalier, William Tell, Il pastor fido, Orfeo, Pygmalion), La Fenice (Lucia di Lammermoor), Palermo (Manon Lescaut, La visita meravigliosa), Rome (Roberto Devereux). Theatre designs include plays for the Royal Shakespeare Company (London Assurance with Judi Dench, Beaux Stratagem), the National Theatre in London (Undiscovered Country, Man and Superman, The Guardsman), Regent’s Park Theatre (Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the Shrew, Henry V, The Tempest) and the Royal Court (The Changeling). Films include The Charge of the Light Brigade and Lady Caroline Lamb.
OUR SUPPORTERS
List reflects total giving between August 1, 2023 and July 31, 2024 (includes 12 months of giving)
SOLOIST CIRCLE
$5,000+
Anonymous
Jill and Christian Anschutz
Marisa and James Aoki
Jean and Hugh Armstrong
Jeff Baldwin
Tammi and Jeffrey Belden
Mary Lou Blackledge-Kortz
Allison and Matt Boone
Ghislaine Torres-Bruner and Marc Bruner
Peggy and Steve Fabos
Peggy Goldman
Mary Mead Hammond and David Hammond
Janet Hehn
Roger Hutson
Diana and Michael Kinsey
Kristin and Dino Maniatis
Barb and David McGrath
Joe McGuire
Kelly Meyer
Sharleen Nakaoka-Aoki
Harold Nelson
Craig Ponzio
Cynthia and Alexander Read
Joseph Schuster
Douglas Stout
Karen Sumner
Meredith Richards and Jason Tagler
Jack Trigg
Julie Van Camp
Annika and Tijs Verwest
Tania Zeigler and Kenneth Ho
PAS DE DEUX CIRCLE
$2,500+
Cherie and Scott Axelrod
Hillary and Adam Biskner
Gil Boggs and Sandra Brown
Jacquelin Medina and Joseph Bronesky
Bruce and Kathy Butterfield
Aimee and Dan Caplis
Leah Capritta and Darin Schneider
Stephanie and Brian Cramer
Colleen Curran and Stephen Boane
Zelda DeBoyes, Ph.D.
Kevin Ellson
Dafri and Michael Estes
Stacey Farnum and Joseph Lynott
Pam and Barry Gatz
Sally Haas
The William H. and Mattie
Wattis Harris Foundation
Jim Harvey
Noel and Terry Hefty
Meg Heller
Dianne and Douglas Herzberg
Gail and Stuart Kassan
Cheryl Solich and John Kure
Patty Lorie
Leslie McCarty
Diane and Tom O'Connor
Theresa and Norman Parker
Bonnie Perkins
Jacqueline and Snahel Prajapati
Cari and Mark Spiecker
Maureen Tarrant
Janet Tobin
Daniel Wilkinson
Wendy Williams and Noel Kullavanijaya
Marilyn Hodges Wilmerding
PATRON CIRCLE
$1,000+
Neil Abrahams
Sierra Adams
Anonymous
Yoshio Aoki
Jennifer Archibald and Stig Thu
Marcia and Rick Ashton
Ashley and Ryan Balakas
Monica Owens Beauprez and
John R. Beauprez
Lauren Beaver
Jessica Benjamin
Patricia Bennett
Lauren and David Benson
Brittany and Aaron Berman
Samantha and Paul Bernstein
Sharon and Steven Birnbaum
Natasha Blanco
Amanda and Chase Boswell
Elizabeth Bradley
Drs. Julie Brant and Dan White
Susan Brashear
Monica and Gabriel Jordan
Claudia Brown
Samantha Buck and Sarah Davis
Lisa and Stan Bush
Iain Campbell
Mimi and Kevin Castelo
Ellie Caulkins
Preston Cecil
Roger Celius
Marty and John Chamberlin
Vanessa and Karlton Childress
Michelle and Matthew Chiodini
Marika and Dean Christopher Family
Aenny and David Chung
Melissa and Adam Clark
Alyssa and Scott Clarke
Ann Collier and Tyler Ray
Olga Skorik and Jeffrey Costello
Amy and Peter Corrigan
Anne and Jason Coughlin
Liza and Denny Coughline
Christin Crampton Day
Karen and Adam Curtis
Carolyn Daniels
Emily and Joe Daniels
Tom Davenport
Stefanie and Steven Davies
Barbara De Jong
Anna DeAugustine and James Milbery
Cara and Scott Dessens
Joy and Christopher Dinsdale
The Dixon Family
Lynn Bolinske Dolven
Jennifer and Michael Dorough
Aaron Doutt
Mojdeh and Paul Drobnitch
Nicole Eberle and Matthew Huebner
Liz and Jeff Edgar
Patricia and Christopher Elliott
Dr. Scott Elmer and Mrs. Susie Ohle Elmer
Jessica and Ian Elston
Joana Emhof and Hans Osheim
Nicole and Patrick Evans
Sarah Kalin
Amy and Alexander Figge
Stacy and Henry Fischer
Faith Fisher and Jim Jaggers
Amy and Max Fletcher
Nicole and Eric Frank
Virginia and Robert Fuller
Holly and Nicholas Games
Melissa and Mark Garland
Paige and Ryan Gates
Julia and Richard George
Vicky and Greg Goldberg
Jenia and Matthew Grabau
Barb and Ned Grauel
Adriane and Joshua Greenberg
Alexis and Tom Hart
Steven A. Hauff
Allison Herman
Roxanne and Jon Isenhart
Maggie and Andrew Jarrett
Arlene Johnson
Lori and Daren Johnson
Shannon and James Johnson
Malena Wiggin and Jameson Jones
Rebecca and Preston Jones
Tasha Jones
Lisa and Shebon Kelin
Carla and Richard Kem
Nicholas Kemp
Michelle Kent and Ryan Godsil
Carol King
Sorenna Kirkegaard and Mason Rickard
Elizabeth and Ryan Kirkpatrick
Fallon and Carl Koebel
Alisa and Leo Koval
Jessica and Martin Kristiseter
Christie Lambert
Victoria Levine
Blair and Kristian Lichtenfels
Gretchen and Charles Lobitz
Gina and Jim Lorenzen
Janet MacFarlane
Elspeth MacHattie
Diana Mackie
Michael Mallett
Kelley and Scott Manley
Jessie and Nicholas Massey
Jennifer and Daniel Mauk
Ann McCloskey
Laura McCormick and Cong Lu
Pat and James McElhinney
Margaret Jurado and V.W. McKnab
Dominique and Drew McManus
Maria Mendelsberg
Virginia Messick
Ali and Josh Metzl
Meredith and Val Milshtein
Suzanne Gallie and Mark Mitchell
Darcee and James Muchmore
Dana and Ben Nightingale
Jenny and Doug Nikaido
Ann Obrzut
Gregory Olive
Jamie Olson
Lisa and Derek Olson
Y. Melinda Pasquini and Michael Guillemette
Sue Pawlik
Alexis and Leo Payne
Sarah and Nick Payne
The McGrath/Perkins Family
Mary and Dan Peterson
Rachel and Cason Pierce
Pamela and Daniel Piro
Kathleen and Jim Potter
Josh Queen
Andrea Rettig and Joseph Traylor
Alexandra and Tom Rhodes
Leilani and Darrin Rich
Katie and Steve Roberts
Frederick Robinson
Katrina and Paul Rochon
Brittany and Jonathan Rogers
Laurie and Chris Romer
Jackie Rotole
Sarah Ryals
Cheryl and Dan Ryan
Ruth Schoening
Maren Scoggins
Silvia and Adam Sexton
Kellie and Andy Shopneck
Josephine and Bill Sinclair
Alicia and Drew Sloan
Holly and Michael Spahn
Anne and Scott Springer
Matthew and Marissa Sproles
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Stapleton IV
Marilyn and Donald Stephens
Vicki Sterling
Rhianna Sutula
OUR SUPPORTERS
List reflects total giving between August 1, 2023 and July 31, 2024 (includes 12 months of giving)
Sean and Melanie Tafaro
Kathleen and Jack Tate
Meagan and Kenneth Thomas
Shonna and Jeff Tsacoumangos
Tiffany and Jeff Tuell
Ashley and Christopher Tulp
Lauren and Michael Turra
Grace Uniacke
John Uppendahl and Travis Railey
Angela and Willem van Hoeven
Claire Webb
William and Scott Weekly
Jessie and Eric Weisenstein
Kristin and Nolan Wessell
Megan and Matt Whelan
Katherine and Michael Whitcomb
Debra and Stephen Whitman
Elizabeth and Samuel Whittaker
Jane and Wong and Ted Ko
Margaret Woodhull and David Hildebrand
Claire Young
JoAnne Zboyan
SUSTAINING FRIEND
$500+
Anonymous
Charles Aoki
Gary and Gail Armstrong
Ellie Bane
Cindy and Scott Baroway
Nikki and Dustin Bashford
Anne and Henry Beer
Andrea Beesley
Brandon Bourque
Geraldine Brimmer and Wayne Thomas
Sara Brinton
Katy and Brian Brown
Diane Brown
Kara and Daniel Brown
Diane Butler
Carol and Alan Caniglia
Stacie Chadwick
Gene Child
Kathleen Clifton
Karen and James Crossman
Tim Curry
Allison and Bruce Dodge
Elizabeth Donnelly
Michelle Drake
Debbie Dunafon
Margaret Dzwilewski
Michael Eaton
Carrie Ermler
Andrew Feinstein
Elizabeth Fischer and Don Elliot
Barb and Stu Fonda
Erin Gallegos
Roseanne Garner
Amanda and Steve Gash
Laura Giocomo Rizzo
Ronald Gloekler
Eileen and Dennis Griffin
Carol and Frederick Grover
Elizabeth Guth
Chris Hattori
Vicki and David Hattori
Helen Hayes
Willie Herndon
Jeanne Hill-Jurik
Karen Hirko
Amanda Horvath
Barbara Huff and Jack Hanley
Kelly Jamison
Donald Kany
Rin Karns
Kathy and Derek Konopka
Janet Kossman
Lori and Dave Kraatz
Henny and Bert Lasley
Trent Lieber
Mamie Ling
Regina Randall
Antoinette MacAluso and Donald Hagengruber
Tanya Maierhofer
Laura Martinez
Janalee and Morris McDonald
Kevin McLane and Michael Ragsdale
Michael Morgan
Erin Moss
Buffy Naake
Michael Newman
Richard Newton
Karen Nichols
Ruth and Larry Nisbet
Erica Oakley-Courage
Rachel Perez
Paul Phillips
Tamara and Ken Picache
Cleveland Piggott
Laurraine Pollard
Julia Porterfield
Chris Powell
Stacey Ray
Cathy Richards
Nancy and Gene Richards
Karen Ritz
Brenda Rivers
Jane and Doug Rogers
Scott Rogers
Chris Ross and Ed Cannon
Sarah Ryals
Kathryn and Timothy Ryan
Maureen Sabo
Murray Sanderford
Andrea and Timothy Sayles
Mieke and Charles Scripps
Douglas Short
Lynne Sirpolaidis
David Snyder
Robert Sterett
Margaret Stookesberry
The Strain Family
Debbi and Jim Strong
Alberta Utech
Klasina Vanderwerf
Ginny Vietti
Kate and Tom Wallace
Linda and Leonard Walmsley
Chanel Bruning
DeeDee Williams
Dawn and David Wolf
Adam Woloshuk
Linda Young
CONTRIBUTING FRIEND $250+
Mona Ables
Renzo Acosta
Christina Alexander
Vivien Alexander
Roxane and Bruce Anderson
Jennifer Andrews
Anonymous
Brittani Arnold
Janice Babcock
Ian Baker
Sherri Barnett
Carol Barwick
Cindy Beemer
Kay Bell
Scott Binder
Susan Bishop and John
Strombeck
Sharon Black
Colleen and Dave Blau
Ari Blum
Rachel and David
Bondelevitch
Stephen Broadbent
Janet Bruchmann
Sue Buck
Marcell Budavari
Michael Bush
Patricia Campbell Rice
Janice Carroll
Christina Chaney
Tawny Chase
Christina Clayton
Ethel K. Clow
Susan Cobb
Jennifer Coffin
Eric Cohen
Emma Convoy
Gail Davies
Angelique DeSilva
Russel Dewitt
Brian Dipert
John Donohoe
William Draper
Peggy Driscoll
Rob Duke
Joyce Dulin
Elizabeth Eads
Renee Estelle
Suzanne Ewert
Joan and John Feek
Anna Forre
Marjorie Frank
Lisa Fray
Jon Gimbel
Rebecca Givens
Bettina Grandey
Theresa Grover
Dr. Fred Grover
Ashley and Bradley Harkrader
Megan Harmon
Alyson Hatten
Linda and Steve Heiss
Clarissa Hobson
Wendy Hodges
Cici Holbrook
Ernest Houssiere
Michael Hughes
Stephanie Jackson
Maria Jennett
Janene Jensen
Susan Jensen M.D.
Martha and R. Scott Jentz
Michael Johnson
Rebecca Kalinowski
Florrie Katchen
Roberta Kennedy
Alicia and Eric Kintner
The Kispert Family
Kathryn Kueny
Judi Levine
Mary and Herrick Lidstone
Kristina Lisowski
Vanessa Logan
Adam Malmgren
Chelsea Malone
Margaretha Maloney and Robert Palaich
Robin Manuel
Devon Martin
Ian Martin
Kay Maune and David Elmore
Julie Lynn McCarthy
Jenny McKenzie and
Alexander Zak
Sandy McKeown
Byron McNew
Steve Mitchell
Carolyn and John Moorman
Lillian Narumi
Julie and Ron Neel
Allison Nitsch
Gordon Ohara
Gretchen Orosz
Joanna Pane
Rodney Parker
Janet Pasterkamp
Karen Peters
Amy Prall
Holly and George Price
Aubrey Pridgen
Oct 25, 7:30 pm
Lakewood Cultural Center
Lakewood
Nov 2, 7:30 pm
Taos Center for the Arts
Taos, NM
Nov 15, 7:30 pm
Dairy Arts Center
Boulder
Oct 26, 7:30 pm
Stewart Auditorium
Longmont
Nov 9, 7:30 pm
Ute Theater Ri e
Nov 16, 7:30 pm
Wright Opera House Ouray
Oct 27, 6:00 pm
PACE Center
Parker
Nov 10, 6:00 pm
Rialto Theater
Loveland
Nov 17, 6:00 pm
Montrose Pavilion Montrose
Nov 1, 7:30 pm Broom eld Auditorium
Broom eld
Nov 14, 6:30pm
Southridge Rec Center
Highlands Ranch
Bruce Rengers
OUR SUPPORTERS
List reflects total giving between August 1, 2023 and July 31, 2024 (includes 12 months of giving)
Carolyn and John Riedlin
Janell Routh
Miah Sack
Santana Sanchez
Emily Sandelin
Grace Savage
Elaine Seegmiller
Teriko Shimotori
Jamie Smith
Sheila Smith
Toni and Andrew Smolen
Ann Spector Lieff
Will Staffhorst
Dr. Carol A. Stamm
Carol Stamm
Jeffrey Stevens
Stephanie and Arthur
Strasburger
Melanie Talbot
Dominique Dubois and Tom Toohey
Kay and Thomas Toomey
Henry Tucker and Devon Case
Matthew Wagner
Stephanie Wall
Midge and Bill Wallace
Stephanie Watkins
Jill Wayne
Erin Wenzel
Chris Wheeler
Bernard Williams
Lois K. Williams
Maren Willins
Mark Winiecki
Joel Wiser
Janet Wright M.D. LEGACY SOCIETY
Anonymous
Michael Bena*
Susan Elliot
Sarah T. Hodge
Scott and Denise Hasday INSTITUTIONAL GIVING
BlackRock
The Bliss Family Foundation
Cisco
Colorado Gulf Packaging Inc.
Delta Dental of Colorado
Empower Retirement
Goldman Sachs
Halvorson-Freese 21st
Century Fund
Medtronic
News Corp
Scarlett Family Foundation
Suncor
TIAA-CREF
Western Union
Colorado Ballet is grateful to our donors at all levels. While we cannot acknowledge every gift in the program book, each gift makes a difference and furthers our mission of artistic excellence and service to our community.
If you would like to update your donor listing, please contact advancement@ coloradoballet.org
*Deceased
Colorado Ballet’s Premier Society honors donors who make annual gifts of $1,000 or more in support of our artistic and educational mission. Premier Society donors enjoy personalized access and special opportunities to deepen their engagement in the company’s programs, special projects, and artists.
PATRON CIRCLE ($1,000+)
Members enjoy an exclusive reception and dress rehearsal viewing during opening week of each production, their names listed in production programs, and more!
PAS DE DEUX CIRCLE ($2,500+)
Members enjoy a reception with artistic staff and dancers on the opening night of each production, and more! SOLOIST CIRCLE ($5,000+)
PRINCIPAL CIRCLE ($10,000+)
ENCORE CIRCLE ($15,000+)
CIRCLE ($25,000+)
CIRCLE ($50,000+)
CIRCLE ($100,000+)
Questions? Please contact Advancement Team at advancement@coloradoballet.org.
Offering focused training for male dancers in a supportive learning environment with specialized technique and conditioning.
coloradoballet.org/male-ballet-training
Photo by Andrew Fassbender
COLORADO BALLET ACADEMY
START EMPOWERMENT EARLY
Students will learn spatial awareness, coordination, musicality and balance through engaging & imaginative classes tailored to young dancers.
PARENT TOT: Ages 1.5-3 (accompanied by Parent or Guardian)
CREATIVE DANCE I: Ages 3-4
CREATIVE DANCE II: Ages 4-5
PRE-BALLET I: Ages 5-6
PRE-BALLET II: Ages 6-7
Photo by Andrew Fassbender
Everyone Belongs at the Theater
Colorado Ballet is thrilled to present an encore performance of The Nutcracker with sensory-friendly adaptations
Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024 at 1:00pm
Intended for patrons with intellectual or developmental disabilities and/or sensory sensitivities, this holiday tradition is presented in a relaxed environment and includes several special features thoughtfully curated by Colorado Ballet’s Education & Community Engagement team to elevate the theater-going experience for all, such as:
· The elimination or reduction of potentially startling special effects, lighting, and sounds during the performance.
· Flexible exit and reentry, allowing patrons to move freely within the theater and take breaks as needed.
· A “Tutu Petting Zoo” where patrons can feel costume pieces, shoes, and props.
· Support tables in the lobby where patrons can check out fidgets, weighted lap pads, sunglasses, and earmuffs.
· The opportunity to meet Colorado Ballet Company dancers before the performance.
· And more!
We’d LOVE to see you there
LEARN MORE & PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
by
Photo
Amanda Tipton
APRIL 11 – 20, 2025
SARAH TRYON & LIAM HOGAN BY RACHEL NEVILLE
Ellie Caulkins Opera House with live music performed by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra
